[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 24, No 02

[Bill Marx]

> ***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 24, No. 02
> January 14, 2005
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +League tells FCC interference persists at New York BPL trial
> * +ARES/RACES rally in rain-soaked California
> * +ISS crew restocks its larder, commander tells kids
> * +Ham radio antenna bills in play in New Jersey, Connecticut
> * +New York radio personality lends voice to ARRL radio spot
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>      Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
>     +ARRL Board of Directors January to meet
>     +ARRL adds new scholarship to roster; 2005 application deadline looms
>     +IARU Region 3 Chairman Peter Naish, VK2BPN, SK
>      Ham-astronaut accepts WAC certificate
>      AMSAT announces "51 on 51 Award"
>      Wayne Long, K9YNF, wins December QST Cover Plaque Award
>
> +Available on ARRL Audio News
>
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>ARRL REBUTS DENIAL OF INTERFERENCE FROM BPL TRIAL, DECRIES FCC INACTION
>
> The ARRL has questioned the veracity and technical competence of the
> company operating a Westchester, New York, BPL field trial. It's also
> faulted the FCC for not shutting the system down. In December, after an
> on-site determination by ARRL Lab personnel and a local amateur that BPL
> interference on 14 MHz had reappeared, the League renewed its request that
> the FCC rescind its Part 5 Experimental license for Ambient Corporation's
> BPL pilot in Briarcliff Manor. Ambient told the FCC in October that it had
> addressed Amateur Radio interference complaints through improved software
> and notching, and it repeated that claim January 6, saying it was unable
> to detect the interference ARRL reported hearing. In a strongly worded
> rebuttal that cited "obvious and preclusive" interference along one
> BPL-active stretch of road, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD,
> questioned Ambient's credibility and competence.
>
> "Ambient's claim that it was unable to find that noise in December is not
> credible," Imlay wrote January 7 on the League's behalf. "If they were in
> fact unable to find the noise, their technical staff is not competent."
> The League said that Ambient's October 12 representation to the FCC that
> it had corrected "all harmful interference" from the system "has proven
> most assuredly false." Additionally, the League noted, an FCC Enforcement
> Bureau staffer also has visited the site and could attest to the
> interference observed on 14 MHz.
>
> In its January 6 response, Ambient claimed it was "unable to confirm the
> high signal levels" and said 80, 40, 30, 20, 15 and 10 meters "continue to
> be notched." Ambient also objected to ARRL's assertion that the signals
> constitute "harmful interference" and suggested the League was improperly
> using the FCC's complaint procedures.
>
> The League said its measurements on 20 meters along one stretch of BPL
> lines were "between 20 and 40 dB higher" than when the BPL signal was not
> present, and it invited FCC officials to review a video on the ARRL Web
> site (click on "Videos of interference in Briarcliff Manor, NY")
> documenting the interference. ARRL accused Ambient of not only failing to
> remedy the interference but of stonewalling by arguing that the signals
> ARRL detected ought not be considered "harmful interference" under FCC's
> Part 15 rules.
>
> Westchester County ARES Emergency Coordinator Alan Crosswell, N2YGK,
> routinely travels on the roads in question and has just as routinely
> experienced interference in those areas, the ARRL said. The League took
> strong exception to Ambient's attempt in its January 6 letter to minimize
> the issue of interference to mobile stations. "Ambient's flippant
> suggestion that interference to Mr. Croswell's mobile Amateur Radio
> communications is not an issue, and that he should merely 'drive away from
> it' is not well taken and is unacceptable to ARRL," Imlay wrote. "It
> should be unacceptable to the Commission as well."
>
> In any case, given that the ARRL measured interference-level BPL emissions
> up to three-quarters of a mile from a BPL modem at Briarcliff Manor, the
> League noted, driving away would not be a practical remedy. "The system
> needs to cease operating on all Amateur bands instead," The ARRL asserted.
>
>
> Crosswell, who's also Westchester County RACES Officer, has documented BPL
> interference, complaints and related information on his "BPL in Briarcliff
> Manor" Web site <http://www.columbia.edu/~alan/bpl/>.
>
> The League said the lingering Briarcliff Manor BPL situation underscores
> the "fundamental incompatibility" between Amateur Radio HF operation and
> "unlicensed (and apparently unregulated) operation of BPL systems." The
> ARRL also faulted the FCC for its "notable inaction over a period of many
> months in responding to complaints" regarding the Briarcliff Manor BPL
> project.
>
> "Ambient clearly is not in compliance [with FCC Part 5 Experimental
> rules], and the Office of Engineering and Technology needs to, in this
> most egregious case, finally do its job and shut this station down pending
> compliance determinations and a demonstration that the system can operate
> without causing harmful interference." It also demanded that the FCC
> rescind Ambient's Part 5 experimental authorization and "determine other
> appropriate sanctions" against the company.
>
> A copy of the ARRL's January 7 letter to the FCC is on the ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/01/11/2/BPL-BCM-ARRLresponse2Ambien
> t0105.pdf>. For more information on BPL, visit the "Broadband Over Power
> Line (BPL) and Amateur Radio" page on the ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/bpl/>.
>
> ==>ARES/RACES AID IN CALIFORNIA FLOOD RESPONSE
>
> Flooding and a devastating mudslide in Southern California kept Ventura
> County ARES/RACES members on the move this week. Among other activities,
> ARES/RACES has supported communication at shelters housing La Conchita
> residents displaced by a massive and deadly mudslide January 10 that
> killed at least 10 people. A town of some 250 inhabitants, La Conchita is
> approximately 65 miles north of Los Angeles.
>
> "Several communities were cut off from access to the outside world during
> the flooding, including the Ojai area and the cities of Santa Paula,
> Fillmore, and Piru," reports David Gilmore, AA6VH, ARES District Emergency
> Coordinator and Ventura County RACES Radio Officer. He said five shelters
> were opened during the course of the flooding, providing refuge to more
> than 700 evacuees. Gilmore said the hospital in Ojai also experienced
> flooding, but the community's flood-initiated isolation would have made it
> extremely difficult to transfer patients to other facilities.
>
> "An ARES/RACES member stood by at the radio communications room at the
> hospital during this crisis, while the flooding was dealt with," he said.
> "Fortunately, the effects of the flooding were able to be contained, and
> the hospital was able to continue operating."
>
> In the midst of dealing with the La Conchita mudslide and the subsequent
> rescue/recovery effort, Ventura County also faced a forecast of additional
> heavy rainfall plus a prediction that the Santa Felicia dam at Lake Piru
> might overflow January 11.
>
> "The integrity of the dam itself was never in doubt," Gilmore explained.
> "However the amount of water flowing into the reservoir was of sufficient
> volume that if an overflow occurred, the community of Piru--located at the
> very eastern part of Ventura County and below the dam--was expected to
> experience considerable damage."
>
> In light of the threat, authorities ordered residents to evacuate to
> higher ground, and requested Ventura County ARES/RACES to set up radio
> communications inside the community. Access to Piru was already difficult,
> Gilmore explained, and once flooding commenced the town was expected to
> become completely inaccessible.
>
> "We realized that any personnel who went to Piru could become stranded for
> several days, along with the Piru residents," he said. Nonetheless,
> Ventura County ARES/RACES members did not hesitate to volunteer for the
> assignment.
>
> "Steve King, KE6WEZ, immediately packed his vehicle with supplies and
> extra radio equipment, and headed out," Gilmore said. Although his trip
> was hampered by closed or flood-damaged roadways, the California Highway
> Patrol immediately let King through. "He drove the perilous journey along
> Highway 126 to Piru, navigating through flowing water and mudslides that
> already littered the road," Gilmore said.
>
> Although two more operators--Dan Halpert, WA6JQB, and Karl Baird, KG6KRN,
> had also prepared to go, King's vehicle was the last allowed in before
> nightfall, when the highway became too dangerous to travel.
>
> Once there King spent a busy--and uncomfortable--night supporting
> communication for the more than 500 flood refugees, who had little in the
> way of supplies. King was able to help coordinate the delivery of needed
> provisions. At one point, he also handled traffic for the emergency
> evacuation of a Piru resident who required medical treatment. The area
> lost electrical power around 3 AM, and Gilmore says King was instrumental
> in locating a small generator and getting it on line as dawn approached.
>
> Fortunately, the anticipated heavy rain did not materialize, and the
> release of water over the dam was held back enough to avoid affecting
> residential housing. Piru residents were allowed to return home the next
> morning, and King was able to get back home for a well-deserved rest,
> Gilmore said.
>
> As the severe weather wound down, so did the Ventura County ARES/RACES
> activation. Gilmore said the team remains on standby if additional
> communication problems arise.
>
> Heavy rainfall in California in recent days has resulted in mudslides that
> left at least two dozen people dead. California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger,
> who toured La Conchita January 12, has declared a state of emergency in
> Ventura County. The Salvation Army and the American Red Cross are
> cooperating in meeting the needs of those displaced by the flooding and
> mudslides.
>
> ==>ISS CREW OFF DIET, ASTRONAUT TELLS JAPANESE YOUNGSTERS
>
> International Space Station Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW,
> says he and his crewmate, Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov, are off their
> NASA-imposed diet. Chiao spoke via Amateur Radio January 7 with youngsters
> at Mori Elementary School in Hyogo, Japan. The contact between 8N3M in
> Japan and NA1SS aboard the space station was arranged via the Amateur
> Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program.
>
> "We received a Progress resupply ship on Christmas day, so now we have
> plenty of food and water, so we're no longer on our diet," Chiao reported
> in response to a "bonus" question, "Are you hungry now?" from 8N3M control
> operator Kazuyoshi "Kaz" Tanaka, JG3QZN. In early December, NASA had asked
> the Expedition 10 crew to trim 300 calories or so from its typical 3000
> calorie daily intake to keep food supplies from running dangerously low
> before the Russian Progress supply rocket arrived Christmas Day.
>
> The unmanned spacecraft brought 2.5 tons of food, fuel, clothing, supplies
> and Christmas gifts to the complex. Chiao and Sharipov are now roughly
> halfway through their six-month mission. Replying to the "food question"
> that students typically ask, Chiao said the crew has a varied menu aboard
> the ISS, including, he noted, "some Japanese curry that I brought with
> me--curried rice--and also some tofu dishes."
>
> Chiao fielded a total of 20 questions from the school during the
> approximately 10-minute direct VHF contact. He told the youngsters that he
> and Sharipov underwent lengthy and extensive training for their current
> space mission.
>
> "In fact, my crewmate and I trained for the better part of three and a
> half years," Chiao said, "We were studying systems in both Russia and in
> the United States and we also practiced working in spacesuits and we also
> had to do physical exercise to stay in good shape." He urged a student who
> asked about becoming as astronaut to study lots of math and science.
>
> Chiao noted the crew will undertake a space walk later this month. On the
> task list is moving some Japanese experiments from one side of the ISS to
> the other, he said.
>
> Responding to another question about the convenience of living aboard the
> ISS, Chiao said the lack of gravity presents a mixed blessing. "Many
> things are inconvenient about living in space," Chiao said, "because in
> zero gravity it's very easy to lose things. They just float away." The
> upside, he noted, is that "floating makes it very easy for you to move
> around, so some things are convenient also."
>
> A dozen Mori pupils prepared 19 questions for the contact, and Chiao
> answered them all, plus the query from Tanaka just as the pass was coming
> to an end. Looking on were about 100 visitors. The event attracted news
> media coverage from five newspapers and a local TV cable channel. Founded
> in 1872, Mori Elementary School is located near the city of Kakogawa and
> has an enrollment of 363 pupils.
>
> ARISS is an international educational outreach with US participation by
> ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.--thanks to Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ/AD6GZ, who
> provided information for this story
>
> ==>HAM RADIO ANTENNA BILLS INTRODUCED IN TWO NORTHEAST STATES
>
> Amateur Radio antenna legislation has been proposed in New Jersey and
> Connecticut. Introduced January 10, the New Jersey measure, Assembly Bill
> 3641 (A3641) is sponsored by District 22 Assemblywoman Linda Stender. It's
> virtually identical to a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Matthew Ahearn,
> KB2PNN, that failed to make it through the state's last legislative
> session. The new legislation would incorporate the essence of the limited
> federal preemption known as PRB-1 into the Garden State's law books.
> Northern New Jersey ARRL Section Manager Bill Hudzik, W2UDT, said the
> state's PRB-1 group plans to meet with lawmakers this month in Trenton.
>
> "Please remember, the bill's passage is not a given, and we all must
> continue to put Amateur Radio in the best possible light--as many clubs
> did during this past Field Day--whenever we can," Hudzik exhorted members
> on the NNJ Section Web site. "And there will continue to be opposition
> from local governments who may view the bill as a threat to home rule."
> Hudzik thanked Bob Bednard, KA8SAF, with helping to coordinate the bill's
> introduction with Stender's office.
>
> ARRL Southern New Jersey SM Jean Priestley, KA2YKN, also alerted her
> section's members via the SNJ Section Web site. "We are back in business
> and need to work on developing cosponsors and supporters," she said.
> "There is lots of work to do on this in the coming year, so sharpen those
> pencils."
>
> A3641 has been referred to the Assembly Housing and Local Government
> Committee. The proposed law would keep municipalities from adopting zoning
> ordinances that prohibit construction or use of antenna structures by
> Amateur Radio operators. It also would require that any application fees
> be in line with those generally assessed for residential neighborhood
> variances. The New Jersey bill also would prevent localities assessing
> applicants for legal, technical or other consultation or advisory expenses
> incurred by any agency evaluating an antenna support structure
> application.
>
> In Connecticut's General Assembly, an antenna bill has been introduced in
> the Senate by 6th District Sen Donald J. DeFronzo. If approved by the
> Senate and House of Representatives, the measure, Senate Bill No 92 (SB
> 92), would require municipal regulation of Amateur Radio antenna
> structures to comply with the limitations on local regulation spelled out
> in PRB-1.
>
> "To allow amateur radio station antenna structures to be erected at proper
> heights and dimensions to accommodate amateur radio communication and
> otherwise reasonably accommodate amateur radio service communications,"
> says the bill's Statement of Purpose. SB 92 has been referred to the
> General Assembly's Joint Committee on Energy and Technology.
>
> To date, 21 states have adopted PRB-1 bills, and laws in some of those
> states include a schedule of minimum regulatory heights for Amateur Radio
> antenna structures. A PRB-1 bill has also been introduced in Vermont, and
> ARRL anticipates similar measures to be introduced in other states as
> legislative sessions get under way around the US.
>
> For more information on PRB-1, visit the ARRL PRB-1 Package page
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/PRB-1_Pkg/index.html>. The
> FCC discusses PRB-1 on its Web site
> <http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/amateur/prb/index.html>.
>
> ==>BIG APPLE BROADCASTER AMPS UP ARRL RADIO SPOT FOR LIMBAUGH NETWORK FILL
>
> ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, says it's nice
> to have friends in high places. One of the friends of Amateur Radio public
> relations is Howard Price, KA2QPJ, of New York City's WABC-TV (Channel 7).
> Pitts says Price--acting president of the Broadcast Employees Amateur
> Radio Society (BEARS) <http://www.w2abc.org/>, the ham radio organization
> at ABC TV and Radio in New York City and an ARRL Special Service
> Club--heard the League's new radio public service announcement (PSA) and
> had an idea.
>
> "He passed it on to Johnny Donovan, production director at WABC Radio in
> New York City, who dressed it up in one night and made it available as
> 'network fill' on The Rush Limbaugh Show," heard on hundreds of radio
> stations across the US. While most larger stations cover program breaks
> with paid advertising, many smaller stations don't, "and their listeners
> will hear this wonderfully enhanced PSA for ham radio," Pitts says.
>
> Voicing the beefed-up PSA was Donovan himself, a WABC legend and also a
> radio amateur. "Folks all over America will recognize his voice from
> commercial radio," Pitts said.
>
> ARRL has obtained permission to make the 30-second version of the radio
> PSA <http://www.arrl.org/pio/HAMWORKS30.mp3> featuring Donovan's voice
> available on the League's Web site for audition and distribution to radio
> stations. A 60-second version of the PSA
> <http://www.arrl.org/pio/60HamRadioWorks0105.mp3>, voiced by ARRL Media
> and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, and produced by Dave
> Marthouse, N2AAM, also is available.
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Sunspot seeker Tad "Sunshine On My Shoulders" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
> Washington, reports: For the second reporting week of 2005 (January 6-12)
> solar flux and sunspot numbers were down, as expressed in the weekly
> averages of the daily numbers. Average daily sunspot numbers declined more
> than 9 points to 31.6, and average daily solar flux was down more than 5
> points to 89.9. These are not big point spreads, but at this low level of
> solar activity there isn't much room for decline. Over the next two years
> we eventually will see increasing periods of consecutive days with a
> sunspot count of zero and solar flux less than 70.
>
> Solar activity has been rising over the past week. Solar flux is predicted
> at 120 for January 14-15, and around 125 for January 16-20. This is a
> sharp increase over the average daily value of 89.9 for the past week and
> 95.4 for the previous week. Solar flux values around 120-125 suggest daily
> sunspot numbers rising toward (but not reaching) 100. Unsettled to active
> geomagnetic conditions are predicted for January 14, and quiet conditions
> for the following week.
>
> Sunspot numbers for January 6 through 12 were 14, 22, 34, 28, 40, 25 and
> 58, with a mean of 31.6. The 10.7 cm flux was 83.2, 83.5, 88.5, 87.5,
> 90.1, 94.2 and 102.1, with a mean of 89.9. Estimated planetary A indices
> were 4, 37, 30, 4, 6, 14 and 30, with a mean of 17.9. Estimated
> mid-latitude A indices were 4, 21, 20, 3, 4, 9 and 18, with a mean of
> 11.3.
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The North American QSO Party (SSB), the
> Hunting Lions in the Air Contest, the LZ Open Contest, the Michigan QRP
> January CW Contest and the Hungarian DX Contest are the weekend of January
> 15-16. JUST AHEAD: The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (Data) is January
> 20. The ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes, the BARTG RTTY Sprint are the
> weekend of January 22-23. The CQ 160-Meter Contest (CW), the REF Contest
> (CW), the UK DX Contest (RTTY) and the UBA DX Contest (SSB) are the
> weekend of January 29-30. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
> <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.
>
> * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
> Registration for the ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) and Radio Propagation
> (EC-011) on-line courses remains open through Sunday, January 16. Classes
> begin Friday January 28. The Antenna Modeling course is an excellent way
> to learn the ins and outs of antenna modeling. Computer-modeling expert
> and noted author L.B. Cebik, W4RNL, has combined the expertise of his long
> career as a college professor with his love and antennas and antenna
> modeling to offer a comprehensive, yet practical, course of study.
> Propagation students will study the science of RF propagation, including
> the properties of electromagnetic waves, the atmosphere and the
> ionosphere, the sun and sunspots, ground waves and skywaves, and various
> propagation modes--including aurora and meteor scatter. To learn more,
> visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL Certification and
> Continuing Education Program Department <cce at arrl.org>.
>
> * Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration
> for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level III on-line
> course (EC-003) opens Monday, January 17, at 1201 AM EST and will remain
> open until all available seats have been filled or through the January
> 22-23 weekend. Radio amateurs 55 and up are strongly encouraged to
> participate. Class begins Friday, February 4. Thanks to our grant
> sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and the
> United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon
> enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course.
> During this registration period, seats are being offered to ARRL members
> on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL
> Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>.
> For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan
> Miller, K3UFG, <dmiller at arrl.org>; 860-594-0340.
>
> * ARRL Board of Directors January to meet: The ARRL Board of Directors
> will meet January 21-22 in Windsor, Connecticut. A variety of policy,
> regulatory and legislative issues is on the agenda for consideration.
> Likely to come up for discussion is the League's anticipated Petition for
> Reconsideration in response to the FCC's October 14 BPL Report and Order
> in ET Docket 04-37. The ARRL Administration and Finance and Programs and
> Services committees will meet prior to the board session at ARRL
> Headquarters.
>
> * ARRL adds new scholarship to roster; 2005 application deadline looms:
> The ARRL Foundation <http://www.arrl.org/arrl> has announced the
> availability of a new scholarship--the Jean Cebik Memorial Scholarship.
> Endowed through the generosity of Jean and L.B. Cebik, W4RNL, this $1000
> scholarship--as are other ARRL Foundation Scholarships--is intended
> exclusively for educational expenses at an accredited four-year college or
> university, including tuition, room, board, books and other essential
> fees. Applicants must be US citizens and hold at least a Technician class
> Amateur Radio license. A reminder: The deadline to submit applications for
> this and other ARRL Foundation scholarships with transcripts and SAT/ACT
> scores affixed is Tuesday, February 1, 2005. There are no exceptions.
> Information on 2005 academic year scholarships, downloadable applications
> and instructions are on the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Programs Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlf/scholgen.html>.
>
> * IARU Region 3 Chairman Peter Naish, VK2BPN, SK: International Amateur
> Radio Union (IARU) Region 3 Chairman Peter Naish, VK2BPN, died January 9
> after suffering an apparent heart attack a few days earlier. Naish had
> been unanimously elected last February in Taiwan to succeed Fred Johnson,
> ZL2AMJ, as chairman of the IARU Region 3 Board. Naish previously served as
> federal president of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) and was
> WIA's national secretary at the time of his death. IARU President Larry
> Price, W4RA, expressed condolences to IARU Region 3. "In the brief time
> that he was with the other members of the IARU Administrative Council, he
> exhibited a remarkable understanding of complex issues and a ready
> willingness to accept new challenges," Price said in a message to IARU
> Region 3 member-societies. "He will be sorely missed." ARRL CEO and IARU
> Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, concurred. "He served both the Wireless
> Institute of Australia and the International Amateur Radio Union with
> skill and dedication," Sumner said. "Both his talents and his engaging
> personality will be sorely missed in both organizations." A native of the
> UK and originally licensed as G3EIX, Naish continued as an active radio
> amateur after relocating to Australia. Survivors include his wife, Monica.
> A service was held January 14. The WIA has invited tributes and thoughts
> via e-mail <tributes at wia.org.au>.
>
> * Ham-astronaut accepts WAC certificate: During his International Space
> Station Expedition 9 duty tour, astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, became the
> first ISS crew member to contact all seven of the world's continents via
> Amateur Radio. Now he has the International Amateur Radio Union's Worked
> All Continents (WAC) certificate for his wall. Amateur Radio on the
> International Space Station (ARISS) Ham Radio Technical Coordinator
> Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO (right in photo) presented the award to Fincke
> recently at Johnson Space Center. Operating NA1SS Fincke worked KC4AAC at
> Antarctica's Palmer Research Station for his last contact--actually a
> "bonus continent" not required to earn WAC. During that QSO, Fincke and
> ARRL Life Member Chuck Kimball, N0NHJ, compared and contrasted life in
> their respective outposts. After returning to Earth in October, Fincke
> said he's not sure everyone in the NASA community understands and
> appreciates what Amateur Radio means for the rest of the world. "It
> promotes the space program very well," he said. "It is in NASA's interest
> to continue Amateur Radio operations onboard ISS." Fincke said he'd also
> like to do make the first Amateur Radio contact from the moon. His WAC is
> not the first such award from a ham station in space. In 1992, shuttle
> astronauts David Leestma, N5WQC, and Kathryn Sullivan also worked Palmer
> Station to complete their WAC list.
>
> * AMSAT announces "51 on 51 Award": AMSAT has announced its new 51 on 51
> Award <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/awards/#51on51>, given to a station
> making contact with 51 different stations on AMSAT's Echo satellite
> (AO-51) during 2005. "The award is designed to promote friendship, and
> encourage contact with handheld and first-time satellite users," says
> AMSAT Contests and Awards Director Bruce Paige, KK5DO. Contacts may be in
> any mode (Voice/Packet/PSK31) and on any band configuration (V/U, V/S,
> L/S, L/U, H/U). To receive the award, submit log entries electronically or
> in hard copy form. Entries must indicate date and time (UTC) of the
> contact, call sign and grid square of the contacted station and mode used.
> Only QSOs made in 2005 are eligible. The deadline to submit 51 on 51 logs
> is April 30, 2006. QSL cards are not required. The donation for this award
> is $5 for AMSAT-NA members and $10 for nonmembers. Since production costs
> for this award have been underwritten by an anonymous donor to honor Robin
> Haighton, VE3FRH--who served as AMSAT president during the construction
> and launch of AO-51--all fee receipts will be applied to the AMSAT Eagle
> launch fund.
>
> * Wayne Long, K9YNF, wins December QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of
> the QST Cover Plaque Award for December is Wayne Long, K9YNF, for his
> article "The Christmas Tree." Congratulations, Wayne! The winner of the
> QST Cover Plaque award--given to the author or authors of the best article
> in each issue--is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover
> Plaque Poll Web page, http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html. Cast
> a ballot for your favorite article in the January issue by Monday, January
> 31.
>
> ===========================================================
> The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
> Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main
> St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
> <http://www.arrl.org>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.
>
> The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of
> interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely,
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